Rehabilitation Appliances Program (RAP)

DVA's rehabilitation appliance services are being reviewed

DVA is holding a comprehensive review of its rehabilitation appliance services, including aids and appliances provided under the Rehabilitation Appliances Program (RAP) and those provided under rehabilitation plans. The review aims to ensure these services continue to be appropriate, effective and efficient in meeting the veteran community's needs. Nous Group, an external consulting firm, has been engaged to conduct this review.

The review is consulting with the veteran community, ex-service organisations, health professionals and stakeholders across government.

It is focused on rehabilitation appliances and will not be looking at other services such as medical treatment, compensation, pensions or home care. Hearing aids and services provided under the Australian Government Hearing Services Program (administered by the Department of Health) are also not in scope. However, assistive listening devices, which are designed to help the user hear better in a specific situation (such as headsets for watching television, or personal amplifiers) are provided under DVA's RAP and so are a part of the review.

The review is being informed by an Advisory Panel made up of representatives from the peak bodies for professions that frequently prescribe DVA aids and appliances. DVA is also engaging with the broader health sector through the DVA Health Providers Partnership Forum, and has sought direct input from all stakeholders via an online survey and email. The consultation period has now closed.

The review is expected to be finalised by the end of 2018.

On this page

Overview of the RAP

The Rehabilitation Appliances Program (RAP) assists entitled veterans, war widow/ers and dependants through the provision of aids and appliances to minimise the impact of disabilities, enhance quality of life and maximise independence when undertaking daily living activities.

The programme provides safe and appropriate equipment:

according to assessed clinical need

in an effective and timely manner, and

as part of the overall management of an individual's health care.

RAP appliances are available to Gold and White card holders assessed by an appropriately qualified health provider (e.g. Occupational Therapist, Physiotherapist, General Practitioner).

RAP National Schedule of Equipment

The RAP National Schedule of Equipment lists aids and appliances that may assist entitled persons with their daily living activities as part of the overall management of their health care.

The items listed on the Schedule fall into the following broad categories:

continence

diabetes

oxygen and continuous positive airways pressure (CPAP)

mobility and functional support (MFS)

cognitive, dementia and memory assistive technology

personal response systems (PRS)

falls prevention

low vision

prosthesis

footwear

hearing appliances

speech pathology

The RAP Schedule outlines which items require prior approval, the type of assessments required, limits to quantity and duration of supply, and which items health providers may assess and prescribe.

Recent changes to the RAP schedule

On 1 November 2018, two new items were added to the RAP Schedule:

Wireless Streaming Device - These devices connect Bluetooth-compatible hearing aids with external, Bluetooth-compatible devices such as televisions, laptops, telephones and external microphones. These devices are useful for people who experience difficulties in particular listening situations, such as where the sound source might be degraded (e.g. listening to Internet videos on a laptop; communicating on smartphones where the signal is poor or communicating with people over distance).

Companion Beds - these are non-mechanical detachable beds for partners, designed to be paired with an adjustable electrical bed that has been supplied to an eligible veteran or war widow/er.

The 1 November Schedule update also includes:

Contact information for VisAbility has been added to the item ‘Library Service Fee for Talking Book’. VisAbility provides a library service free of charge to people with a print disability. This library has more than 70,000 titles currently available.

Aged Care Eligibility Matrix

The Aged Care Eligibility Matrix includes all aids and appliances available on the Rehabilitation Appliances Program (RAP) National Schedule of Equipment (the schedule) and references whether the aids and appliances can be supplied to veterans in Residential Aged Care Facilities under the different Aged Care Funding Instrument (ACFI) classification levels. The matrix is a guidance tool and further investigation and assessment may be required for complex cases.

Entitled persons requiring a greater level of care in a Residential Aged Care Facility (RACF), as identified through their ACFI score, are not usually provided with RAP equipment as this is the responsibility of the RACF. Approved providers of Commonwealth funded aged care services are required to provide care and services as specified under the Aged Care Act 1997 and Quality of Care Principles 2014. The Quality of Care Principles 2014 Schedule 1, Parts 1 and 2, lists the specified care, services and equipment to be provided for all residents who need them. However, RAP items issued prior to permanent entry into a RACF may be retained subject to the approval of the RACF. In addition, if RAP equipment is customised for a particular entitled person, then provision at DVA expense may be considered, regardless of their ACFI classification, subject to assessed clinical need(s). An example of this would be a customised wheelchair as RACFs are only funded for standard wheelchairs.

Entitled persons receiving a lesser level of care in a Commonwealth funded RACF may be eligible for provision of RAP equipment if additional criteria are met.

Approval must be sought from DVA prior to the purchase of any equipment for an entitled person in a RACF.

Major home modifications

The following information is provided regarding the process for assessment for major home modifications:

Medical-grade footwear

Medical-grade footwear (MGF) services are provided with an aim to restore, facilitate or maintain functional independence and/or minimise disability, deformity or dysfunction as part of the provision of quality health care services to eligible veterans.